Lipitor refers to inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A-reductase. It is used to lower the level of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in the blood, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another kind of fat) and apolipoprotein B (protein required for cholesterol production). Lipitor is also used to increase the blood cholesterol level of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). It is necessary to reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular diseases.
A lipid-lowering agent. Reversibly inhibits HMG-COA reductase, inhibits the cholesterol synthesis at the stage of mevinolinic acid and moderately reduces its intracellular concentration. The indications for the drug use include: primary hypercholesterolemia mainly of IIa and IIb types, under the ineffective diet treatment in patients with increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia; prevention of coronary artery disease. The drug decreases the risk of myocardial infarction, the need for revascularization of the myocardium, deaths from cardiovascular system diseases.
Caduet consists of Amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium. Caduet has a double mechanism of action; action of amlodipin as dihydropyridinic antagonist of calcium and for suppression of atorvastatin HMG-CoA reductase. It is taken for prevention of cardiovascular events at patients with hypertension, with three concurrent factors of cardiovascular risk, with cholesterol level from normal to moderately raised, without clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease and also when according to the existing recommendations about treatment the combined use of amlodipin and low dose of atorvastatin is deemed appropriate.